Compare towns
Dover vs Gorham vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+60%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Rochester has the most people working from home (40.8%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Dover | Gorham | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,466 |
2,682Highest |
1,389Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +60%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.5±8.3 38% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6Highest 39% above U.S. |
53.3±7.6Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.2%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.5%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.4%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.5%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gorham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.4%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $52,313±$7kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7k 24% below U.S. |
$72,676±$8kHighest 10% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $332,900±$55kHighest about the U.S. average |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$253,600±$81k 24% below U.S. |
| Dover and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $670±$49Lowest 53% below U.S. |
$838±$83 41% below U.S. |
$929±$158Highest 34% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,510Highest 45% above U.S. |
$4,334 39% above U.S. |
$3,977Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.1%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.4%±27.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Rochester and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.2%±11.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
40.8%±27.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rochester and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| High school in town | None in town | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.